Overview

The Iowa State University eData data warehouse is an environment for decision-making, supported by timely and accurate information from an official authenticated source.

A data warehouse consists of data extracted from the operational, or "transactional," database systems of various departments such as the Registrar's Office, Controller's Department, Human Resources and Payroll, and makes that data available as historical snapshots for analysis and reporting purposes. By bringing data from disparate sources into a centralized repository, users from across the university who use the data warehouse share a consistent version of the information stored within.

Features

Characteristics that distinguish data in eData from that found in the operational systems include:

• Ease of access and use. Data is organized and structured for improved understanding and easier access for reporting purposes.
• Consistency and updates. Copies of the data are made from strategic points in time. Once the data is placed into the data warehouse it is not changed (the data warehouse is a read-only database). Rather, the historical data stored in the Data Warehouse is periodically refreshed with data from the operational databases.
• Quick response times and stable data. Data from the data warehouse is accessed using the web-based IBM Cognos. There is no software to install, configure, or patch. Because the data and queries are stored on the eData site, there is no chance that you will lose or delete information.

Requirements

Access to administrative information is determined by the role of the individual and may be contingent upon training, applicable data policies, and responsibilities. Contact your departmental or college IT coordinator for more information. Security and privacy will be prioritized over access. More information about eData access can be found in the eData policy.

All official university eData reports are accessed through the IBM Cognos Connection web interface, which requires a modern web browser and internet access. Note: Non-Internet Explorer browsers have limited capability within the IBM Cognos Connection interface, but all browsers can access official university reports.

Rates

This is a common good service available at no charge.